Oxford women and Cambridge men savour Boat Race triumphs

• Dark-blue women end eight years of rivals’ dominance

• Light-blue crew power to four-length win in men’s race

Oxford’s women ended eight years of Cambridge dominance in their Boat Race with a sensational performance led by the Olympic medallist Heidi Long, while Cambridge eventually overpowered their dark-blue rivals in the men’s race after a fiercely contested opening.

On a breezy and largely overcast day in London, Oxford’s women forged an early lead as the first race of the day sped away from Putney, and they led by about six seconds by Hammersmith Bridge, with tens of thousands of fans cheering the boats on from the riverside, lining the 6.8km course all the way.